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Coastal
Explorations Series Offers February Opportunities In Lowcountry
The Coastal Explorations Series kicks off its second
year of events this spring with three exciting and free
opportunities for the public in February.
The S.C. Department of Natural Resources' (DNR) Coastal Explorations
Series will span from February through May with many different
opportunities for the public to get involved. The events range in
format from seminar, lecture, discussion, to hands-on identification
and field outings. For a complete listing of all of the events and
to register for the events, click
HERE. The public is encouraged to register 30 days in
advance of each event. The events during February are as follows:
Tour of Nemours Plantation in the ACE Basin
Date: Thursday, Feb. 14, 9 a.m. - mid-afternoon
Speakers: Ernie Wiggers, Manager of Nemours Wildlife Foundation,
Jeff Mollenhauer, S.C. Audubon Director of Conservation
Much of the Ashepoo, Combahee and Edisto Rivers (ACE)
Basin is composed of plantations that use the river systems for
cultivation, hosting abundant wildlife and maintaining unique
cultural heritage. The outing will feature a tour of one of the
primary plantations of the ACE Basin, with a focus on the management
of plantation impoundments and the
use of these areas by shorebirds.
Life on an Un-fished Artificial Reef
Date: Wednesday, Feb. 20, 6 p.m.
Speaker: Mike Arendt - DNR marine biologist
Principal Investigator Mike Arendt will discuss changes
in the seasonal and annual occurrence of different species of fish
at a small, un-fished artificial reef. Although the ability to
locate and catch fish has improved over the years, often requiring
stricter harvesting regulations to prevent over-fishing, natural
factors also influence the ability to catch fish on a given day or
time of day and should be considered when evaluating viability of
fish populations. Since 1999, DNR has collaborated with researchers
from Skidaway Institute of Oceanography to remotely record video
observations and oceanic conditions at a 'secret' artificial reef.
This presentation will feature video clips, which document the
potential of remote underwater video to study marine life under
natural conditions, as well as demonstrate the importance of oceanic
conditions in determining the ability to observe, and perhaps catch,
some fishes.
Birding and Tour of Bear Island, WMA
Date: Friday, Feb. 29, morning (time: to be announced)
Speakers: Dean Harrigal, DNR wildlife biologist, Pete Laurie, former
DNR employee
Tour the Bear Island Wildlife Management Area, with an
emphasis on birding. Wetland impoundments and various habitats exist
within Bear Island that make this area a bird watchers paradise.
Participants will travel in hayride style as they are pulled in an
open trailer with bench seating. Harrigal Laurie, both knowledgeable
on wildlife management techniques used in the area, as well as bird
life found, will lead the tour.
The goal of the Coastal Explorations Series, free of
charge to the public, is to raise regional awareness of issues
pertaining to South Carolina's marine resources, the importance of
conservation, and the significance of historical preservation in the
Lowcountry area.
Increasing the public's understanding of DNR projects
and goals is another important initiative of the scheduled programs.
The Coastal Explorations Series provides the public with an
opportunity to interact with and meet DNR employees that have
knowledgeable insight into the following topics. The pilot year of
the Series was 2007 in which 16 programs were offered with 630
participants from the public.
Register for the events through the online calendar
available on the Web
HERE. Online registration is available 30 days prior to each
scheduled event.
Reservations are required for all of the events, as detailed
logistical information varies for each seminar and public outing.
Locations for the Series include the Marine Resources Complex in
Charleston, Nemours Plantation in Gardens Corner, Bear Island
Wildlife Management Area and the McKenzie Field Station, both
located in the ACE Basin.
For additional information on the Coastal Explorations Series,
contact DNR Coordinator, Kim Counts at the Marine Resources Center,
at
(843) 953-9354, or
CountsK@dnr.sc.gov.
Boaters Need To Check
Their Marina Slip Contract Against Their Boat's Insurance Policy -
Do You Have the Coverage You Need?
From BoatUS
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 17, 2008 - Before you sign your annual slip
contract with your marina this year, be sure to read it carefully -
it may obligate you to pay more than just the slip fee as marinas
are inserting language in their slip contracts that shift the
marina's legal liability to the slip holder in an effort control
increasing marina insurance costs.
"What this means in real terms, for example, is if a boater's guest
is injured due to the marina's negligence and sues the marina, or a
boat is damaged by the marina and it declines to pay for repairs,
the boat owner could be responsible for defending the marina and
paying any amounts that the marina is responsible for," said BoatUS
Vice President of Underwriting, Jim Nolan.
"In the insurance industry it's called contractual liability," said
Nolan, noting that such slip contract language includes terms like
"hold harmless and indemnify" and "defend and indemnify". "If they
see this language, boaters should check to make sure that their
boat's insurance policy provides them with coverage for these types
of contractual liabilities before they sign their slip or storage
contract," he added.
If the boat insurance policy does not include contractual liability
coverage, boaters could find themselves paying big money out of
pocket for injuries, defense lawyers and possibly property damage to
their own boat because the "hold harmless" provision may insulate
the marina from paying for damages it may have caused.
"Many boat insurance policies exclude contractual liabilities and do
not allow a boater to simply sign away their insurer's right to be
reimbursed for boat damage caused by the marina," added Nolan. |
